Juventus will take on holders Chelsea, Russian champions Zenit and Swedish outfit Malmo in the 2021/22 iteration of the Champions League group stage.
The Bianconeri scraped into this season’s competition courtesy of Napoli’s 1-1 draw at home to Hellas Verona on the final day of the 2020/21 Serie A season. Juve’s simultaneous 4-1 triumph over Bologna propelled them into Europe’s premier competition at the Neapolitans’ expense.
However, Massimiliano Allegri, who guided Juve to a pair of Champions League finals during his first spell at the club, will have his work cut out if his side are to progress beyond the group stage. Thomas Tuchel’s Premier League-chasing Chelsea will be considered the favourites to progress from Group H, while a tough away trip to Zenit beckons for the Bianconeri.
Nevertheless, it’s a draw Juventini would’ve taken beforehand.
As for the other Serie A teams, last season’s Scudetto victors, Inter Milan, will face Real Madrid in the group phase for the second consecutive year. The two supergiants are joined by Roberto De Zerbi’s Shakhtar Donetsk and first-timers FC Sheriff in Group D.
Atalanta will face Manchester United, Europa League winners Villarreal and Swiss champions Young Boys in Group F.
AC Milan, meanwhile, will have to get past both Atletico Madrid and Liverpool in Group B if they’re to advance into the knockout phase. They’re joined by Porto, who beat Juventus over two legs in last season’s quarter-finals. A tough draw on their return to the competition!
2021/22 Champions League full draw
Group A
Manchester City
Paris Saint-Germain
RB Leipzig
Club Brugge
Group B
Atletico Madrid
Liverpool
Porto
AC Milan
Group C
Sporting Club
Borussia Dortmund
Ajax
Besiktas
Group D
Inter Milan
Real Madrid
Shakhtar Donetsk
FC Sheriff
Group E
Bayern Munich
FC Barcelona
Benfica
Dynamo Kyiv
Group F
Villarreal
Manchester United
Atalanta
Young Boys
Group G
Lille
Sevilla
FC Salzburg
Wolfsburg
Group H
Chelsea
Juventus
Zenit
Malmo
2021/22 Champions League Group Stage Matchday Dates
Matchday 1 – 14 & 15 September
Matchday 2 – 28 & 29 September
Matchday 3 – 19 & 20 October
Matchday 4 – 2 & 3 November
Matchday 5 – 23 & 24 November
Matchday 6 – 7 & 8 December
The match calendar for this season’s group stage will be released by Saturday.